New Computer advice

[sisooktom]

I'm finally looking to build a new PC and relegate my old one to Linux duty. I do a fair amount of gaming but not a ton. I'm looking to build a system that can last me a while without upgrading much. This will be the first system I've built. I've been an enthusiast for years, and I work as a programmer so I'm plenty literate, I just lack experience in choosing components. Stability is my TOP priority. I most likely will NOT overclock, but I like the idea of a setup that's robust enough to handle that if I wanted to, kind of like insurance. Basically I want a system that can handle HL2, Doom 3, WoW, etc but not at the highest framerates or anything. What I was thinking of was something like the following:

CPU: A64 3000+
Motherboard: Need advice here, see below
RAM: 512MB or 1 GB, probably Muskin Level One or Corsair XMS
Video Card: ATI AIW9600XT
HD: Segate Barracuda SATA 120GB
Case: Antec Sonata? See below

My big question is about the mobo. This is a system I want to build by mid May or so. I was pretty sure I wanted to wait on NF3 250, but I can't wait forever. So I'd have to buy a first rev board, which I'm not sure about. Also, I got to thinking that although the 250 looks really cool, I'm most likely not going to use RAID, and I don't NEED the Firewall or GbE. So, I'm starting to wonder if I'd be best served by just buying a current VIA board and being done with it. Either way, what manufacturers are the best? I've heard praises and horror stories about them all. The other question I had was about the PS in the Sonata case. I keep hearing how important the PS is in an AMD system and I've wondered if the 380W supply in the Sonata is going to be enough. With so many people stressing that 400 and 500W+ supplies are a must, it's got me wondering. Anyway, any advice you could give me would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Markfw]

Welcome to the forums ! Since your not buying until May, due to the high volatility in the market, you should ask and decide then. I have my favorite, but you son;t seem to need some of the features of this board anyway, but check my sig.

 

[Nebor]

Spring the 200 bones for a 9800 Pro. WAY more future proof than your 9600XT.

 

[sisooktom]

I'd like to buy before May, that's the thing. I'd be willing to wait if it's really gonna be worth it. As for the 9800Pro, I really like the features of the AIW, otherwise I would. With that said, any additional comments? Mark, just so you know my initial feeling was that ASUS mobos were the best, but I've heard rumors that their support sucks and their quality has went downhill. Any thoughts on that?

 

[Regs]

If you want a good motherboard with out all the extra's I would get the Gigabyte GA-K8T800 for $95.00 dollars.

It will be able to handle a 220 HTT x 10 over clock, giving you an extra 200 Mhz out of your 3000. I owned one, very stable.

The Nforce 250 might be able to push it to 2.3 Ghz with stock voltages. That's the only advantage with a Nforce 250. Doesn't come with soundstorm and it only comes with 2 DIMM slots.

I would rather the Gigabyte or Asus offering myself.

 

[Markfw]

That Antec Sonota will be just fine unless you are putting in 10 fans and 6 hard drives. A quality 350 or better will power any of todays standard rigs (2 optical, two HD, floppy, video 1 gig ram, big CPU, and a couple of case fans)

I think that ASUS is still fine in quality. There was one bad batch of capacitors on K8V boards that I heard of here, but mine was fine, and there was no charge to get it replaced. Support is one of the best still. (except no 64 bit drivers)

And as the video card, get the 9800pro. With all that horsepower, you would be disappointed with a slideshow in games. If you really like the AIW so much get a 9800pro AIW (I think they make those ?? Don't they ?)

 

[sisooktom]

They do but it's way out of my price range. I was under the impression that the 9600XT gave respectable performance for the price, am I misinformed?

 

[carni]

Thus far I have only seen N 250 boards in 940 pin. Im not even sure if they are going to make a 754 board. I have read that sme 939 boards will be able to accept both chips??? I to have an ASUS MBo. That is a very soiund board, and I have yet to have a single issue with it. On teh vid card, in btween the 9600 AIW and the 9800 AIW is the 9700 AIW. You can still find them on Pricewatch and that is a great card. It's about 70 bucks more than the 9600, but definately worth the differenc ein price. I would assume (assumption so probaby wrong ) that it would be pretty easy to OC it up to almost stock 9800 speeds. I don't overclock, but have one of thos eon my back up box, and it is a very nice peice of gear. I run a SPI SParkle 350 Watt PS to power my system, and it has mre than enough juice to run the system, and 6 attached USB devices. You can make up the difference in cost of teh vid card, well some of it, by going with the AOpen MoBo. It got an editors choice award here, overclocks well, and costs 40 bucks less than the ASUS board. So you could get the 3000+ AOpen Mobo, and AIW 9700 for 30 bucks more than your posted set up.

 

[Markfw]

Respectable, but not in the same class as the 9800 pro. One case: Halo : 9800XT (the fastest of all) 59.54 fps, 9800 pro 55.17 (very close, and very playable), 9600 XT 34.15 (not great, but stutter and get below that)

If TV is that much of a "must do", get a TV card later. I wouldn't want a slide show in a great computer.